Arrangement for cleaning gratings,grids,racks,etc.



3,482,698 ARRANGEMENT FOR CLEANING GRATINGS, GRIDS, RACKS, ETC. FiledMarch 22, 1968 9. 1969 LARS-OLOF LENNART bsTwAs 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

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Dec. 9, I969 ARRANGEMENT FOR CLEANING GRATINGS,'GR IDS, RACKS, ETC.Filed March 22, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet :3

United States Patent 3,482,698 ARRANGEMENT FOR CLEANING GRATENGS, GRIDS,RACKS, ETC.

Lars-Olaf Lennart Ostniis, Hagersten, Sweden, assignor to AB Tolu,Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Mar. 22, 1968, Ser. No.715,244 Claims priority, application Sweden, Mar. 28, 1967, 4,214/ 67Int. Cl. B01d 35/16 US. Cl. 210159 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Acleaning system for cleaning gratings, waste water gates, grids, etc.comprises a power-driven vertically reciprocable rake movable along thegrating. The rake is carried by a lower arm which is pivoted to an upperarm. The upper arm is moved along a guide by a carriage. The guide has ahorizontally extending leg such that toward the upper end of the stroke,the upper arm is swung rapidly upwardly thereby rapidly to raise therake and also to lessen the total height of the two arms.

Different systems are known for cleaning and clearing filter means, suchas a grating, rack, grid, etc. for example when such a filter isprovided at a waste water sewer or sewage channel at a place whererubbish impurity particles are to be separated out. Such cleaningsystems have been used to remove the rubbish accumulated at said place.

The known systems have the disadvantage of being very voluminous,particularly in the vertical direction, and this disadvantage isparticularly marked if the depth of the sewer or channel is big.Furthermore, the driving machinery of such systems frequently isintricate and voluminous.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantagesof the known systems of this kind by creating an arrangement ofrelatively low volume and height which is effective and reliable.

Another object is to provide a cleaning arrangement having a drive whichmay be constructed as a separate unit being independent of the widthand/ or height of the grating, grid or rack to be cleaned, and which maybe located, if desired, considerably spaced in the vertical directionfrom the grating.

The arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that thecleaning means are provided on an arm or lever or on part thereof, whichis connected through V a joint to a guiding and supporting arrangementwhich is movable in operation along a guide extending above the grating.

The joint support of the cleaning means permits effective cleaning ofthe grating and a fast and reliable mover Thus, the driving, guiding andsupporting arrangement of the cleaning system may substantially consistof standard elements the structure of which will be substantiallyindependent of the height and/ or width of the grating.

The guiding and supporting arrangement preferably comprises an upper armportion and is such that at least part of the stroke of the cleaningmeans reciprocating between the grating and the collecting place in-3,482,698 Patented Dec. 9, 1969 volves varying of the angle included bythe parts of the arm.

The desirable variation of said angle may be obtained in that the guidehas an upper angular part which is entered by at least part of theguiding and supporting arrangement during the end phase of the movementof the cleaning means towards the collecting place.

Further characteristic features and advantages of the invention may beseen from the following description of a number of embodiments of theinvention shown by way of example.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cleaning arrangement according tothe invention, being located at a sewer which is provided with a gratingof rods.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the lower part of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of another embodiment of the system shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative arrangements of the drive of the cleaningsystem shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 at different levels above the grating.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a sewer 1 including separating means for impuritieswhich means is shown as a grating or grid 2, for example a gratingconsisting of parallel rods or bars. The impurities retained by thegrating are removed by a movable cleaning element substantiallyconsisting of a rake 3 the shape of which is described more below. Bymeans of this rake 3 the impurities retained by and accumulated on thegrating are moved to a collecting place 4 which may be a gutter, a beltconveyor, a car or the like.

The cleaning rake 3 consists of a lower cleaning member 5 being mountedon two arms 6 each comprising two sections 6a and 6b pivotally joined byjoints 6c.

The upper arm section 6b forms part of a guiding and supportingarrangement for the lower arm section 6a which is provided with thecleaning member 5. This guiding and supporting arrangement is movable ina guide 9 arranged above the sewer 1. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1and 2, said arrangement forms also a drive for the cleaning rake, andfor this reason the upper arm sections 6b are interconnected by a sleeve10 enclosing a shaft 11 and being rotatable relative to this shaft 11.The shaft 11 is rotatable in both of the directions of rotation by meansof a driving motor 13 mounted on the sleeve. Bearings 12 are insertedbetween the sleeve 10 and the shaft 11.

Each one of the two ends of the shaft 11 projects from the respectiveend of the sleeve and carries a toothed wheel 15 engaging a rack 16which extends along the guide 9 and operates the rake, and a roller 17moving between planar surfaces 9a of the guide. The sleeve 10 is alsojoined to two levers 20 provided with supporting rollers 19 and isfixedly attached to two arms 21 opposite to the levers 20. A compressionspring 22 is inserted between each lever 20 and arm 21 and is connectedto the arm 21. An abutment 23 limits the relative movement of the levers20 and the arms 21. The supporting roller 19 engages a guiding surface9b of the guide. The upper part of the surface 9b has a bracket orprojection approximately at right angles to the remainder of the surfacewhich is carried by a guide frame 24.

When the shaft 11 is rotated by the driving motor 13, the rake 5, 6 andits associated guiding and driving aggregate moves upwards by means ofthe toothed wheel 15 engaging the rack 16, the movement being guided bythe rollers 17. By rotating the shaft 11, the motor 13 tends to rotatein a sense opposite to the sense of rotation of the shaft. However, thesupporting roller 19, the

compression spring 22 inserted between the lever 20 and the arm 21, andthe abutment 23 limits the swinging movement of the rake during theupward stroke of the rake so that during this upward movement the spring22 is kept compressed and the cleaning member 5 of the rake resilientlyengages the grating 2.

When the upper end of the rake arrives at the upper end of its path, thesupporting roller 19 enters the bracket part 9c of the guide whereby theupper arm sections 6b move in a direction away from the guide so thatthe angle between the sections 6a and 6b is altered. At the same time anupper limit switch switches off the driving .motor and afterwardsswitches on the motor in the reverse direction of rotation of the rotorthereof so that the rake is moved downwards.

During said movement of the arm sections 61) away from the proper guide,the cleaning member 5 of the section 6a moves along an inclined plate 31extending from the upper cover or rim of the sewer 1 to the collectingplace 4. If desired, a special guide (not shown) may keep the armsection 6a spaced from the plate 31 such that the cleaning member 5 doesnot engage the plate.

A scraper 28 is mounted on the frame 24 approximately in the center ofthe frame to clean the cleaning member 5. In its lowest position thescraper 28 rests on a support lug 29 and may be moved to a substantiallyhorizontal position shown by chain lines in FIG. 1 by a projection 30 ofthe lower arm section 6a when this section 611 moves. At the same time,rubbish and impurities caught by the cleaning member 5 are pushed downto the collecting place 4.

When the driving motor 13 is reversed, the rake is moved downwards alongthe guide so that the two arm sections 6a, 6b perform a relative angularmovement until they are aligned again whereupon an abutment 6d preventsfurther relative angular movement. During the down stroke of the rake,the spring biased supporting member 19, 20 causes the sleeve and thearms 6 to be turned in the opposite direction, that is counter-clockwisein FIG. 1. This involves that the rake swings away from the grating 2 tothe position shown by chain lines in FIG. 1. When the rake reaches itslower position, the driving motor is switched off, and the processdescribed above will be repeated.

The required height of the frame 24 above the sewer 1 is low because therake is articulated owing to the joints 6c between the sections 6a and612. As the driving means of the rake consist of a fairly simpleaggregate moving together with the rake, the described embodiment has nospace requiring driving elements outside the frame. The upper part ofthe rake automatically causes the swinging or angular movements aroundhorizontal axes by means of the guiding and supporting arrangement asdescribed above, whereby the operation of the rake will be effective.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the cleaning member 105 ismounted on an arm section 106a which is pivotally connected by a joint1060 and an arm section 10Gb to a guiding and supporting arrangement inthe same way as in the embodiment described above with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. The guiding and supporting arrangement comprises acarriage 110 provided with rollers 117, the arm sections 106b hangingdown from the carriage. Each of the sections 106a carries an upperangular part or bracket 1066, the end of which carries an exchangeablerotatable roller 106] forming a counterpoise. The angular part 1062serves as a lever for the counterpoise roller 106 so that, ifunprevented, the clean ing member moves into engagement with the grating102 by pivoting around the axis of the joint 1060. During the downstroke of the cleaning member 105, the roller 106 engages a counterpoiseguide 140 being located such that the cleaning member is kept disengagedfrom the grating. The counterpoise guide 140 is connected to astationary frame section 141 by links 142 so as to be movable withrespect to the frame such that during the upward stroke of the cleaningmember the guide 140 may be displaced to be clear from the path of theangular part 1062 and the roller 106 and occupies the position shown bychain lines in FIG. 3.

The carriage 110, 117 is movable along a linear vertical carriage guide109 consisting of I-beams in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thelength of the beams can be increased downward as far as desired.Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide 109 has anupper angular part or bracket 1090. When the carriage 110, 117 entersthe bracket, the angle included by the arm sections 106a and 10612 ischanged and the cleaning member moves along the slide plate 131, anadjustable scraper 128 transferring the impurity particles to thecollecting place 104.

In this embodiment, the driving system and the upper part of the guideform part of an upper driving station 145 for the rake. A motor 113drives a reduction gearing 114, 115 the output of which is connected toa shaft 116 journalled above the guide 109 and having fixed to itsprocket wheels 118. One end of each of the chains driven by thesprocket wheels 118 is fixed to the carriage 110, 117, the other endbeing loaded with a counterpoise 121, one for each chain. Suitablypositioned limit switches (not shown) control the stroke of the carriage110, 117 between the upper and lower limits of the stroke. Thereliability of operation is improved by suitable switches actuated bythe chains 118 loaded with the counterpoises, the switches beingarranged such that the'driving motor 113 is switched off (and braked, ifrequired) if the chains relax, for example when during the upward strokeof the rake the cleaning member lifts some bigger object which mightdamage the driving system.

As may be seen from FIG. 4 the driving station 145 of the rake may beused independently of the width of the grating to be cleaned.

It may be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6 that one and the same driving station145 can be used irrespectively of the height of the grating andirrespectively of the vertical spacing between the grating and thecollecting place. FIG. 5 shows the grating 102 of a sewer or waste waterduct 100 extending in the lower floor of a building whereas the drivingstation including the upper part of the guide 109 and the motor 113together with associated ancillary equipment are located on a fioorseveral storeys above the grating and comprising the collecting place104. The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 may be modified to be in accordancewith FIG. 5, simply by extending the guide 9, the slide plate 131 andcounterpoise wires to correspond to the increased distance of thecollecting place 104 from the grating 102. FIG. 6 shows how the drivingstation may be mounted on a base 132 if the collecting place 104 iselevated. A corresponding arrangement may be required if the grating isvery high and, thus is provided in a sewer of great depth.

Considering the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 it will be understoodthat all of the elements of the driving and guiding assembly may bestandard elements which may be readily exchanged and are adapted for usewith all existing types of gratings, grids and racks.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning filter means such as gratings, gates, gridsand the like, comprising a cleaning member for removing impurityparticles and rubbish accumulated at the filter means, a lower arm onwhich said cleaning member is mounted, an upper arm pivotally connectedto said lower arm, an upwardly extending guide adjacent the filtermeans, a carriage movable along said guide and carrying said upper arm,said upper arm constructed and arranged to extend a substantial distanceoutwardly beyond said guide, said guide having a horizontally extendingportion that said carriage enters to swing said upper arm rapidlyupwardly and to cause said outward extension thereby to accelerate theupward movement of the cleaning member adjacent the upper portion of itspath of travel.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said horizontally extending guideportion meeting the upwardly extending portion of the guide at a sharpangle of substantially 90.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a slide plate intermediate thelength of said guide, said plate being engageable by said cleaningmember during at least a portion of the upward movement of the cleaningmember, an arm carrying a counterweight secured to said lower arm tokeep the cleaning member angularly displaced toward the filter meansduring upward movement of the cleaning member, and means engageable bysaid counterweight arm during downward movement of said cleaning memberto keep the cleaning member away from the filter means during thedownward stroke of the cleaning member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said carriage including a horizontalshaft movable along said guide, a driving unit carried by said shaft forrotating said shaft,

a rotatable tubular sleeve about said shaft, said sleeve having an armhaving a roller thereon engaging said guide and pivotal with respect tothe sleeve, said sleeve having an arm thereon which is fixed withrespect to the sleeve, and compression spring means acting between thetwo said arms carried by said sleeve.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and a toothed wheel carried by theshaft and engaging a rack extending along the guide to move the cleaningmember vertically.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 495,023 4/1893 Ctirrell 2101591,823,823 9/1931 Dundas et al 210-159 3,358,837 12/1967 Tillett et al210-159 3,347,382 10/1967 Quast 210159 REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary ExaminerT. A. GRANGER, Assistant Examiner

